Analysis of an Interlobate Boundary in the Wisconsinan Drift of Kalamazoo County and Adjacent Areas in Southwestern Michigan
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Master's Theses Graduate College 8-1977 Analysis of an Interlobate Boundary in the Wisconsinan Drift of Kalamazoo County and Adjacent Areas in Southwestern Michigan Norman A. Lovan Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses Part of the Geology Commons Recommended Citation Lovan, Norman A., "Analysis of an Interlobate Boundary in the Wisconsinan Drift of Kalamazoo County and Adjacent Areas in Southwestern Michigan" (1977). Master's Theses. 2207. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/2207 This Masters Thesis-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ANALYSIS OF AN INTERLOBATE BOUNDARY IN THE WISCONSINAN DRIFT OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY AND ADJACENT AREAS IN SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN by Norman A. Lovan A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the Degree of Master of Science Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan August 19 77 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ANALYSIS OF AN INTERLOBATE BOUNDARY IN THE WISCONSINAN DRIFT OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY AND ADJACENT AREAS IN SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN Norman A. Lovan, M.S. Western Michigan University, 1977 ABSTRACT A detailed investigation of selected textural and mineralogical aspects of tills in southwestern Michigan is used to define an interlobate boundary relationship be tween the Wisconsinan ice of the Lake Michigan and Saginaw lobes. Bedrock underlying the study area contributed lit tle to the bulk composition of the tills investigated. However, morainal development in the study area shows strong correlation with bedrock topography. In a discussion of the deglaciation of Michigan and the study area, a history of morainal development is re viewed and attention is focused on the reentrant district located in Kalamazoo and neighboring counties. Attempts to delineate t i l l s of the Lake Michigan and Saginaw lobes using textural and magnetic susceptibility data were in conclusive. However, the character and extent of an in terlobate boundary relationship in the study area is de limited by ratios of heavy minerals, as well as, ratios of the 7A/10A peaks produced by clays in X-ray diffractograms. i i Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to extend my sincere thanks to Dr. W. Thomas Straw who suggested this problem and encouragingly direct ed my efforts during the course of the study. My thanks also go to Drs. Lloyd Schmaltz, W. David Kuenzi, and Cas par Cronk for their suggestions and review of the manu script. Appreciation need also be expressed to Dr. W. B. Harrison of Western Michigan U niversity's Geology Depart ment for suggestions and aid during sample preparation and to Dr. Stoline of W.M.U.’s Mathematics Department for aid in the statistical analysis of my data. Additionally, I extend my appreciation to my fellow graduate students, es pecially Robert Kell, Hall Taylor, Jonathan "Nate” Fuller, and Warren P. French for th e ir continuous moral support and criticism and to Bob Havira of Western Michigan Uni v e rs ity 's Geology Department for photographic work. To Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, and Dr. J. Mead I express my thanks for the use of their magnetic susceptibility bridge. Also, to Dr. Ned Bleuer of the Indiana Geological Survey I extend my appreciation for suggestions on sample analysis and aid while at Indiana University. During the first two years of my study I was the re cipient of Graduate Fellowships funded by Western Michigan University's Graduate College and the Department of Geo- i i i Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. i v logy. Additionally, I received a research grant funded by the Graduate College. Finally, I wish to express my gratitude to Linda Lovan for her continued encouragement, to my parents, Paul and Mary Lou Lovan, a special appreciation for the financial and moral aid in what seemed like a c r is is , and to Janell B. Smith for her assistance in the typing and preparation of the manuscript, as well as, her personal friendship. To all these people and many others I extend my thanks. *"*' Norman A. Lovan Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. INFORMATION TO USERS This material was produced from a microfilm copy of the original document. While the most advanced technological means to photograph and reproduce this document have been used, the quality is heavily dependent upon the quality of the original submitted. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help you understand markings or patterns which may appear on this reproduction. 1.The sign or "target" for pages apparently lacking from the document photographed is "Missing Page(s)". If it was possible to obtain the missing page{s) or section, they are spliced into the film along with adjacent pages. This may have necessitated cutting thru an image and duplicating adjacent pages to insure you complete continuity. 2. When an image on the film is obliterated with a large round black mark, it is an indication that the photographer suspected that the copy may have moved during exposure and thus cause a blurred image. You will find ja good image of the page in the adjacent frame. 3. When a map, drawing or chart, etc., was part of the material being photographed the photographer followed a definite method in "sectioning" the material. It is customary to begin photoing at the upper left hand corner of a large sheet and to continue photoing from (eft to right in equal sections with a small overlap. If necessary, sectioning is continued again — beginning below the first row and continuing on until complete. 4. The majority of users indicate that the textual content is of greatest value, however, a somewhat higher quality reproduction could be made from "photographs" if essential to the understanding of the dissertation. Silver prints of "photographs" may be ordered at additional charge by writing the Order Department, giving the catalog number, title, author and specific pages you wish reproduced. 5. PLEASE NOTE: Some pages may have indistinct print. Filmed as received. University Microfilms International 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 USA St. John's Road, Tyler's Green High Wycombe, Bucks, England HP10 8HR Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. MASTERS THESIS 13^10,287 LOVAN, Norman Alan ANALYSIS OF AN INTERLOBATE BOUNDARY IN THE WISCONSINAN DRIFT OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY AND ADJACENT AREAS IN SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN. Western Michigan University, M.S., 1977 Geology Xerox University Microfiims,Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE A b s t r a c t ..................................................................................................... i i Acknowledgements .................................................................................. i i i Table of contents ............................................................................. v List of figures ....................................................................................... v ii L ist of t a b l e s ....................................................................................... x Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 Bedrock geology .................................................................................. 4 Glacial geology .................................................................................. 6 Introduction ....................................................................................... 6 Till classification ................................................................... 12 Deglaciation of Michigan .......................................................... 17 Terminal and lateral moraines in the study area . 22 Valparaiso morainic system ................................................ 22 Kendall moraine ........................................................................ 24 Kalamazoo morainic system ................................................ 27 Tekonsha-morainic system ..................................................... 29 L o c a tio n ..................................................................................................... 30 T ech n iq u es ................................................................................................ 31 Field sampling .................................................................................. 31 Laboratory analysis ................................................................... 32 Analysis of an interlobate boundary .................................. 35 Textural analysis ........................................................................ 37 v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. PAGE Magnetic susceptibility analysis ....................................... 45 Heavy mineral analysis .............................................................